SSAT Verbal
Analogies
Basic Strategies
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Analogies, not synonyms
relationships between words
make sentences - bridges
look for clear, tight, logical relationships
substitute exactly in the same sentence
get a good strong sentence; then run through
adjust your bridge if you need to
Strong and Weak Relationships
from Kaplan
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Dog is to canine
Dog is to friendly
Dog is to kennel
Dog is to cat
Dog is to paw
Dog is to puppy
Dog is to hound
Dog is to biscuit
Tips
• Remember words may mean more than one
thing
• Be willing to adjust your test sentence
guessing if you know one word
• If you reverse test words, reverse other words
• Eliminate if there is no clear relationship
Apply General Strategies
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Process of elimination.
Remember words get harder
Use vocabulary attack skills
Work backwards
Resist easy answers to hard questions
look for wrong answers
6 Classic Bridges
From Kaplan
• Character. One word
characterizes the other
Quarrelsome is to argue
• Lack. One words
describes what the other
is not. A coward lacks
bravery
• Function. One word
names an object; the
other its function.
Scissors is to cut
• Degree. One word is a
greater or lesser degree
than the other. Run is to
walk.
• Example. One word is an
example of the other
word. Measles is to
disease.
• Group. One word is made
up of several of the other
word. Forest is to trees.
Other analogies you may see
• Tool. One word is a tool,
the other is the user. A
blacksmith uses a
hammer.
• Leader. One word is the
organization, the other is
the leader. An orchestra is
led by a conductor.
• Effect. One word causes
the other. A race leads to
fatigue.
• Gender. One word is
male, the other is female.
A gander is the male, a
goose is the female.
• Age. One word is the
baby, the other is the
adults form. A colt is a
little horse.
• Purpose. One word is
used in a task involving
the other. A hook is used
to catch a fish.
Weird Analogies
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Just one or two of these
The two words have rearranged letters
The two words rhyme
Instead of A:B as C:D, the relationships are
between A:C and B:D
Weird examples
• August is to November (March is to June)
• Rough is to cough (sight is to fight)
• Grape is to tree (wine is to paper)
Working backwards
• Cygnet is to swan as
– Chicken is to egg
– Frog is to snake
– Turtle is to racoon
– Puppy is to dog
– Spider is to fly
Other suggestions
from Kaplan
• Educated guess – word is to philologist
• Using context. Vote is to suffrage
• Word charge.
– ANNOYED: ENRAGED
– CRUEL:BENEVOLENT
– ANIMATED: ECSTATIC
Review
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Make a strong bridge
Look at the test words carefully first
Use process of elimination
Focus on relationships only